Match-safe.



PATENTED 001?. 31, 1905.

G. A. LUSK.

MATCH SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1905 2 SHEBTSSHEET l.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATCH-SAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed March 28, 1905. Serial No. 252,575.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LUsK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cortland, in the county of Gortland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of which the following is a specification.

The intent of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durable match-safe for holding unburned and burned matches, having means for scratching the matches conveniently and embodying members arranged to facilitate removal of the matches from the safe.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a matchsafe embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is'a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal blank from which the safe is preferably constructed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the follower and burned-match holder of the safe. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the follower. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In carrying out the in ention in order to secure a construction of safe combining both simplicity and cheapness it is preferred to make the device from a blank of sheet metal, which is bent into suitable form to accomplish the results desired. The safe is comprised of a front wall 1, a rear wall 2, a side wall 3, and a second side wall 4. The safe is preferably of a size adapted to receive the contents of a single box of matches, though it will be understood that the holders or safes may be made in various sizes within the contemplation of the invention. The upper portions of the side walls 3 and 4 curve-upwardly and rearwardly to heighten the ornamental eifect of the safe and facilitate the disposition of the matches therein. The front wall 1 has its upper portion flanged outwardly and curved downwardly, as shown at 5, and such portion may be decorated or formed so as to conduce to the ornate appearance of the device. The upper extremity of the rear wall 2 is also curved rearwardly and downwardly, as shown at 6, and just below the curved portion 6 are located two slots 7, inclined from the vertical and transversely widened at their lower extremity. The slotsare adapted to receive heads of suitable fastenings attached to the wall or like support to secure the safe thereon. The portion 6 in rear of the rear wall forms a spring part to more readily hold the fastenings in the slots 7, said slots being inclined, so as to resist the lateral pressure against the scratching device, which will be described hereinafter. The portion 5 stiffens the front wall of the safe in a manner'apparent. Spaced extensions 8 are bent outwardly from the rear wall 2 inclining downwardly and terminating at a oint approximately in line with the plane 0 the front wall 1. The extensions 8, being made of metal, are adapted for a certain amount of spring movement up and down, and said extensions support the matches located in the safe as the latter feed down to the delivery-opening. The front wall 1 is provided with a rearwardlybent ledge or similar projecting part 9, which inclines downwardly somewhat and when bent from the wall forms the feed-opening 10 for the matches. Inclining upwardly from the lower edge of the front wall 1 are bent spaced extensions 11, similar to the members 8 of the rear wall 2. minate in a plane just below that of the ledge 9. The lower extremities of the extensions 8 are normally in contact with the front wall 1 at the point where the extensions 11 project upwardly therefrom. The said extensions 11 in relation to the extensions 8 form a converged space receiving the matches, (indicated at 20.) The matches are preferably arranged across the feed-opening 10 and may be readily grasped and pulled outward from the safe, and the extensions 8 spring away from the lower extremity of the front wall 1 as the matches are withdrawn. The ledge 9 prevents the matches from packing in the space between the extensions 8 and 11, taking the weight of the upper matches from those in such space. The inclination ofthe ledge 9 permits the matches, however, to feed or roll off of the same as the lower matches are exhausted from the seat. A follower 13 is mounted in the safe and consists "of a plate having edge portions thereof bent upwardly and forming guide members These extensions ter- 14:, which, moving in contact with the front and rear walls of the safe, direct the move ment of the follower in a manner apparent.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the front and rear edges of the follower 13 are bent to form guide members 14,- whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 5 the end edges of the follower are bent upwardly, and said end portions are cut away on an oblique line to economize material.

The side wall 3 of the safe is integral with the walls 1 and 2 and is formed of material between said walls. The wall 4, however, is provided at its vertical edge with a lateral flange 15, and the rear wall 2 is folded at its adjacent vertical edge about the flange 15, as shown at 16. When folded about the flange 15, the folded portion 16 has its vertical edge outwardly extended, as shown at 17, the portions 17 being vertically fluted or corrugated to provide a roughened surface, over which the heads of the matches may be turned in striking the same. The scratcher 17 is located conveniently and increases the ornamental appearance of the safe to some extent, also rigidly reinforcing the structure of the receptacle.

The follower in the safe constitutes a receptacle for burned matches, and the latter may be readily thrown into the safe at the upper bent end thereof. It will be noted that as the follower moves downwardly in the body of the safe the space for the burned or used matches may be gradually increased in a manner which will be readily apparent, this being an extremely advantageous feature of the invention.

The provision of the ledge 9, which is slightly inclined, as heretofore remarked, is of great importance in that said ledge gives a greater amount of space for the matches as they drop below the same, not permitting the matches to pack, since they will be loosely supported at the .point of removal. The above permits a match to be withdrawn without pulling several with it, and the ledge increases the practicality of the device to a great extent. The flange 15 of the side wall maybe clamped by the folded portion 16 of the part 2 at the corners in order to secure the side 4 to the rear side 2 aforesaid.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. A match-safe comprising front, side and rear walls, an extension inclining downwardly from the rear wall, and spaced extensions inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the front wall, there being a feed-opening between the spaced extensions of the front wall, the extension of the rear wall being in contact with the extensions of the front wall at the lower extremities of the latter.

2. A match-safe comprising front, side and rear walls, spaced extensions inclining downwardly from the rear wall,,spaced.extensions inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the front wall, there being a feed-open ing between the spaced extensions of the front wall, the extensions of the rear wall being in contact with the extensions of the front Wall at the lower extremities of the latter, and a ledge projecting rearwardly from the front wall above the extensions thereof portion longitudinally roughened and fluted.

5. A match-safe comprising a metallic blank bent to form front, rear and side walls,

one of the side walls being integral with the front and rear walls, the other side wall having an edge thereof bent laterally to form a flange, the adjacent edge of the rear wall being folded about the flange of the side wall and longitudinally roughened or corrugated, spaced extensions projected rearwardly from the lower extremity of the front wall into the body of the receptacle, and a ledge projected from the front wall of the rece tacle between the extensions thereof an arranged in the plane above the upper extremity of said extensions and forming a feed-opening.

6. A match-safe comprising a metallic blank bent to form front, rear and side walls, one of the side walls being integral with the front and rear walls, the other side wall hav ing an edge thereof bent laterally to form a flange, the adjacent edge of the rear wall being folded about the flange of the side wall and longitudinally roughened or corrugated, and spaced extensions projecting from the rear wall and inclining downwardly. therefrom into contact with. the lower extremities of the extensions of the front wall.

7. In a match-safe, the combination of front, side and rear walls, the front Wall being provided with a finger-opening, an extension inclining downwardly from the lower portion of the rear wall and extending toward the front wall, and a ledge projected rearwardly from the front wall above the extension aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. LUSK.

Witnesses:

CLAYTON R. LUsK, THOMAS H. Down. 

